Germany gold; Sweden silver; Canada bronze
The curtain on Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016 has been drawn with Germany winning gold after a 2-1 defeat of Sweden.
The Germans appeared in an all-red jersey to win the Olympic title for the first time ever, having finished third on the podium at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Neither Brazil nor Sweden lacked that particular emotion in their various vibrant, chance-filled encounters.
Both Germany and Canada went 2-0 up before holding on to win 2-1.
They, however, had to endure nerve-wracking finales when Brazil and Sweden each pulled a goal back in their respective games.
Sweden leave Rio with a historic silver medal – the nation’s first ever Olympic medal in women’s football – as well as the Fair Play Award.
There were tears for Brazil at finishing off the podium places and for the departure of 38-year-old Formiga.
[Formiga retires from international football as the only woman to have played in all six Olympic tournaments.]
However, she was bid farewell with an ovation from the home fans, who supported their side as they had in all six matches at the competition.
GOAL OF THE DAY
Sweden 0-1 Germany, Dzsenifer Marozsan (48′)
While some goals are more important than others, there are also goals that are important and spectacular.
One such is the one scored by Dzsenifer Marozsan to break the deadlock at a crucial moment at the start of the second half.
Melanie Leupolz’s cross from the right was deflected by a Swedish defender towards the Hungary-born Marozsan on the edge of the penalty area.
The No10’s stunning right-footed effort curled into Hedvig Lindahl’s top-left corner, and although the goalkeeper got her fingertips to it she was powerless to keep it out.
It was the only goal Marozsan scored at the tournament, but it was a vital one.
© Copyright 2016 www.elombah.com. Send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter handle @Elombah; like our Facebook page: “Elombah.com”.